Wind chime factory

The Wind Chime Factory

Right in

Manassas Park, VA!

Text Box: Today we were lucky enough to get a tour of a local wind chime manufacturing company. They make 1,,200 wind chimes every day, and have less than 100 employees! Each of the components are made here in the factory, with the exception of the ones with metal rings on the top, those are brought in. But we were surprised to learn all the components that go into making chimes and especially how they manufacture the wood right in the factory!

Text Box: First, we learned that the pipes are made from aluminum because they hold up for years. Each pipe has been coated with a powder coat finish. Then they are cut to the proper length for optimum sound quality.

Text Box: This machine drills the holes for the nylon strings which dangle the pipes from the chimes. Each wind chime is hand assembled here at the plant. Some of the larger ones retail for more than 300 dollars! But, they sound beautiful!

Text Box: Above you see how they put the pieces together using this stacking poles. To the left, a finished piece. These were the larger ones, and had a very deep rich sound. Below you may notice the ones in the front have fancier top parts and wind paddles, while the ones in the back were more smooth and had a simple circle paddle. However, they sounded the same. I wonder if they cost the same?!

BOXED AND READY TO SHIP!

Text Box: Some of the smaller chimes had more wooden components. All of the wooden components were manufactured in the factory. They used hearty woods like cedar and cherry to withstand the elements. Below is a box of wind paddles, and you can see how they would line them up for a spray coat of varnish. That room was stink—y!! It was neat to see all the big sanders and equipment needed to produce these shapely components.

Oval: Then we learned they even make bird feeders and houses! They use a wood embosser to make the pretty patterns on the wood boards for the houses. It actually burns the pattern into the board. It was neat to touch it and feel the raised pattern of the flowers. We think any bird would be happy to call it home!